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I am thinking of applying for a resident asiistant in our neighborhood assistant living type center. I have no experience. This is totally new to me. So what I am wondering is how much pay should I expect, what type of ?'s should I have if it comes to an interview. TIA!!
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I work in a nursing home, and the pay has never been that good (2 different nursing homes in 2 different areas of the state). Usually we get paid on the lower end of the spectrum for the area. Not sure exactally what a resident assistant in an assitant living is responsible for? I always work as a nursing assistant in an actual nursing home. That would probably be a good starting point for questions, finding out exactally what the duties are. Also ask about training and how much on the job training you will have.
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Around here (Central Pa) aides for assisted living make around $8/hr. There are less duties than a skilled care facility as the residents are supposed to be able to toilet them selves and do most if not all of their personal care.
I worked as a shift supervisor in a facility that had an assisted living and a skilled unit and loved it. I really miss listening to the residents stories, they have so much to share. I got really attached to the ones who had no family and the ones whose family seldom or never came to visit.
Good Luck
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Do you have to have a certificate to do this job?? I work in a nursing home and no one is allowed to care for the residents without being on the ct registery.
I work in the kitchen and I'm required by law to have my servesafe certification. this is a safe food handling licence. Only the cooks on staff are required to have this, my boss can't even hire any new cooks unless they have this.
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I became a CNA right out of high school, and worked for about 16 years (mostly in nursing homes, but I did some home care also) between 1984 & 2000. It was then that I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, so I haven't worked as a CNA since then. But, when I started at the last place I was at, I had so many years of experiance behind me, they paid me more than the rest of the girls- $10.50/hr., and I was shift supervisor. You didn't say whether you'd be certified or not, or if you'd be full or part time, but I would think that the minimum wage you could expect would be around $8/hr. to start. (Might be more, if you get certified.)
Just talking about this brings back such great memories for me. I really do miss working with the elderly, and if you love hearing some great old stories about the "good old days" you too will LOVE this job. It's a thankless job, most of the time (from supervisors), but it's SO rewarding knowing you did your best to care for, and make as comfortable as possible, someone who simply couldn't have done it for themselves. I grew VERY attached to some of my patients, and to this day, I still think of some of them from 15 years ago!!
If going full time I would ask about benefits, how long before you could expect a pay increase, and how much more you'd make being certified. Assisted living should be WAY easier than skilled care, or even moderate care. I did the whole range. If I had to do it all over again (given my condition) I would have to go for Assisted Care. No lifting, no toileting, dressing, baths, etc. Once my DD starts Kinder, I'm thinking of applying for part time work at some of the assisted living facilities we have here. It becomes addicting, helping other people! And you walk away from your job feeling like you really did some good in the world that day!
Best of luck to you, and let us know how everything turns out!
Lisa...
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In Central pa you have to be a CNA to work in any healthcare facility except a personal care home. I wish they would extend that requirement to those too but for whatever reason you do not need to be certified.
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I am not sure if you are refering to being a CNA or an aide. In Maine they are different. CNA takes more schooling, and pays more. I know around here the pay is about $8 per hour for the aide, and $10 an hour for cna work. that is to start. Once you have some experience you can branch out and find some really great jobs. I was just hired as a CNA working for a nursing agency (going to different homes every shift, day, etc.) and I am making twice what I made when I was starting out. There are a lot of possabilities in the healthcare field. I say go for it!!
some cna work is easier than other cna work. assisted living requires a lot less physical work then nursing home work where the people are considered long term care. you need to have a strong stomach, nerves of steel and I think be in good physical shape. I totally think that you would enjoy it--its very rewarding.
also, hospitals are hiring cna's more and more these days. monday I have an interview in the pediatric unit of the local hospital. the pay in hospitals is also higher than nursing homes, so thats something to consider also.
GOOD LUCK!!
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you need to have a strong stomach, nerves of steel and I think be in good physical shape. I totally think that you would enjoy it--its very rewarding.
It's a thankless job, most of the time (from supervisors), but it's SO rewarding knowing you did your best to care for, and make as comfortable as possible, someone who simply couldn't have done it for themselves. I grew VERY attached to some of my patients
Ain't that the truth! DH and I worked in nsg homes as CNAs [we did a 3 week paid CNA certification course at a nursing home] for almost 2 years. Overall, we loved what we did. [Sure, you have bad days, but you have them anywhere.] Helping people was contagious (like someone previously mentioned) and very rewarding. All the crap (pun intended) that you waded through at times was worth what you were providing for the residents aside from assistance with their hygiene: hope, companionship and a sense of worth. Here in SW PA we got paid between $10 and $12/hr with good overtime and holiday pay for full-time work. There are CNA jobs EVERYWHERE! The turnover rate is astronomical, so if your local home isn't hiring at the moment, put your app in b'c you'll probably get a call within a few weeks. Your local hospital is probably begging for them, as a lot of hospitals don't have enough CNAs and the nurses end up doing CNA work. You can also get a job at an agency and make more money, but I don't know if you need X amt of experience in the field first. Here, those who work for agencies (you get sent to whatever nsg home that is severely short-staffed and fill in) pays twice what a standard nsg home CNA job pays. I think you should invest in a CNA license if you haven't already. It's definately worth it! (especially when most places pay you while you're going through the course..)
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Nursing Services definately pay more. My Mom ran one in Aurora, IL. for about 6 years. When I wasn't working for the service as a CNA, I was behind the desk filling positions, doing payroll, etc. Back in the late 80s-early 90s, when she owned the business, I think we were paying our CNAs between $13 and $15/hr. depending on whether it was a weekday or weekend shift. We don't have even ONE Nursing Service in my town. Wish I could start one, but you need at least one RN on staff to do that. Maybe I'll go back to school for nursing. Who knows. But, yeah...I'd say definately get in with a nursing service if there's one in your area. They can even send you on home care cases, if the nursing home isn't your cup of tea.
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Originally Posted by Missystuy
Do you have to have a certificate to do this job?? I work in a nursing home and no one is allowed to care for the residents without being on the ct registery.
I work in the kitchen and I'm required by law to have my servesafe certification. this is a safe food handling licence. Only the cooks on staff are required to have this, my boss can't even hire any new cooks unless they have this.
I called them to find out if they were hiring and the qualifications, I told her I had no experience, it would be totally new to me. She just said if i had gone to school the job would come a little easier. She didn't mention anything about a certificate. But I don't even know if the pay would be worth my time. I could only work part time after my dh gets home and if it's only like $9 hr.